Hochevar no longer in the mix for rotation spot

Summary of 2 articles · Updated Mar 13, 2013

"I'm willing to take the ball in any position that I can to help the club," Hochevar said. Hochevar, who has been a rotation regular for the Royals since 2008, has made just four career relief appearances. Hochevar will not have a set role in relief, Yost… (more) said. Hochevar had been competing with Bruce Chen, Will Smith and Luis Mendoza for the fifth spot in the Royals' revamped rotation his spring. Yost envisions Hochevar, a right-hander, fitting in with his "big four" of the bullpen right-handers Greg Holland , Aaron Crow and Kelvin Herrera, and left-hander Tim Collins. He'll operate as a long reliever and could work back into the rotation, though it's possible the Royals will seek to trade him or offer his release. "I think it makes us a better team, it makes us a stronger team, it gives us a better chance to win every day," Yost said.